- This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first month of the year.
- About 700 BC it became the eighth month when January and February were added to the year before March by King Numa Pompilius, who also gave it 29 days.
- Julius Caesar added two days when he created the Julian calendar in 45 BC giving it its modern length of 31 days. In 8 BC it was renamed in honor of Augustus (despite common belief, he did not take a day from February; see the debunked theory on month lengths). According to a Senatus consultum quoted by Macrobius, he chose this month because it was the time of several of his great triumphs, including the conquest of Egypt.
- In the neopagan wheel of the year August begins at or near Lughnasadh (also known as Lammas) in the northern hemisphere and Imbolc (also known as Candlemas) in the southern hemisphere.
- India got independence on 15 August 1947.
- Some of Ireland's most famous battles have been fought in this month. They include: the Second Battle of Athenry (1316); the battle of Knockdoe (1504); the Battle of the Yellow Ford (1596); the First Battle of Curlew Pass (1599); the Battle of Dungans Hill (1647); the Battle of Castlebar (1798), and the Battle of the Bogside (1969).
- Edinburgh Festival is an internationally famous arts festival that takes place during August
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- 6 August is Independence Day in Jamaica since 1962
- 9 August is the National Day of Singapore.
- 15 August is Indian Independence Day since 1947.
- 14 August is Pakistan's Independence Day since 1947.
- National Psoriasis Awareness Month
- National Water Quality Month
- In many European countries, August is the holiday month for most workers
- The Philippines celebrates August as the "Month of Philippine Languages"
- In the United States, August is National Back to School month. Some US School districts and systems return to school in August.
- In the United States, August is National Goat Cheese Month.
- American Adventures Month
- Audio Appreciation Month
- Black Business Month
- Cataract Awareness Month
- Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
- Children's Vision and Learning Month
- Get Ready for Kindergarten Month
- Happiness Happens Month
- Neurosurgery Outreach Month
- Panini Month
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
- What Will Be Your Legacy Month
- Win with Civility Month
- During the first week of August in Wales, the National Eisteddfod of Wales is held, in which many aspects of Welsh art and culture are celebrated.
- During the first week of August in Sweden, the Medieval Week of Wisby in Gotland is held each year.
- During the first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week.
- The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is held the first full week in August each year.
- The middle week of August is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
- The Pennsic War, a massive gathering of the Society for Creative Anachronism, takes place about the first week of August every year.
- The first week of August is "Indian Week" for the Penobscot Tribe in Old Town, Maine. In this week, members of the Penobscot Tribe from all over Maine venture to the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation in Old Town and take part in games, Native American arts and crafts, pow-wows, cook-outs, etc.
- The first full weekend in August each year, Twinsburg, Ohio, celebrates Twins Days.
- Bon festival (Obon Festival) is a Japanese traditional buddhist custom, evolved into a family reunion holiday. Many Japanese manufacturers and firms give their employees three to five days off around the 15th of August.
- Indian Independence day on August 15
- The Glorious Twelfth, the start of the shooting season for Red Grouse in the United Kingdom August 12th
- International Lefthanders Day August 13th
- Pakistan's Independence day on August 14th
- Vietnam Veterans' Day (Australia) marking the Battle of Long Tan (18 August 1966)
- World Humanitarian Day is a day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes on August 19th
- Black Ribbon Day, commemorating the peaceful political demonstration in 1989 when two million people joined hands across the Baltic states of Estonian SSR, Latvian SSR, and Lithuanian SSR August 23rd
- The International Day against Nuclear Tests August 29th
- The International Day of the Disappeared, drawing attention to the fate of individuals imprisoned at places and under poor conditions unknown to their relatives and/or legal representatives August 30th
- The Philippines celebrates National Heroes Day in commemoration of the First Cry of the Philippine Revolution on August 23, 1896.
- Ramadan runs from July 8 to August 7 2013
- Laylat al-Qadr on August 14, 2012
- August 8, 2013 is Eid ul-Fitr
- Note: the Islamic holidays vary from year to year. The dates given above are for 2013.
- August's birthstone is the peridot or onyx
- Its birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy, meaning beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family.
- The zodiac signs in August are Leo (until August 21) and Virgo (from August 22 onward).





This topic is locked










